Updated October 2026. Knitwear is the quiet backbone of a winter wardrobe, and this season the category has moved away from heavy, single-purpose jumpers towards lighter gauges that work under coats and over shirts. Our knitwear collection has grown considerably since last winter, with more fine-gauge yarns, more open-knit textures and a wider run of necklines, so a fresh ranking was due.
Every piece here earned its place on numbers rather than taste alone. We looked at best-sellers over the last 90 days, return rates and how many different outfits each knit can anchor. Velira offers designer-inspired pieces in premium fabrics, and every order ships free worldwide with tracking, carries 30-day returns and is priced below retail.
1. Mesh buttoned cardigan
Open mesh gives this cardigan the airiness of a summer knit with the layering value of a winter one. Worn over a fine roll-neck it reads as a textured mid-layer rather than a lightweight afterthought, and the cotton-blend yarn has a dry hand that holds its shape at the buttons. Sizing runs relaxed through the body, so most people take their usual size from XS to XXL and let the sleeves sit slightly long.
A$360 (RRP A$1,047) Shop this
2. Back-to-front knitted jumper
Built with the neckline and seams reversed, this jumper is the one piece on the list that makes an outfit on its own. A heavier wool blend gives it real warmth, and the dropped shoulder means it layers cleanly over a shirt without bunching at the arm. The fit is deliberately oversized; if you prefer a closer line, go down one size.
A$405 (RRP A$3,670) Shop this
3. Fine-knit polo top
For the weeks between proper cold and the heating going on, a knit polo in a fine gauge is the most useful thing you can own. It wears like a long-sleeve tee but reads as tailoring under a blazer or an overcoat. Cut regular with a little stretch and true to size across XS to XXL.
A$385 (RRP A$2,695) Shop this
4. Foil-finish knit top
A metallic foil finish over a soft knit base is the evening answer on this list; under a wool coat it catches light without shouting. The fabric is mid-weight with a fluid drape and a cool hand against the skin. It is cut close to the body, so size up if you want ease through the chest.
A$380 (RRP A$2,264) Shop this
5. V-neck short-sleeved knitted polo
Short sleeves on a winter list might look odd until you wear one under a crewneck and feel the difference a knitted collar makes at the neck. The yarn is a fine, smooth blend, light enough to disappear under layers and good enough to stand alone when the weather turns. Regular fit, true to size, with a slightly longer body than a standard polo.
A$400 (RRP A$2,685) Shop this
6. Buttoned knit crop top
Cropped knits earn their keep in winter by sitting exactly at the waistband of high-rise trousers or a midi skirt, with a coat closing over the top. This one has a structured rib and a row of buttons down the front that read as a cardigan when worn open. The fit is fitted rather than relaxed and it runs small, so take one size up if in doubt.
A$385 (RRP A$2,168) Shop this
7. Cut-out ribbed knit top
Stretchy ribbed yarn and a sculpted cut-out at the front make this the piece for dinners rather than commutes, though it works under a tailored jacket by day. The rib has excellent recovery and the weight is light enough for a heated room. Sizing is close-fitting and stretch-dependent; order your usual size, and XS to XXL are all available.
A$360 (RRP A$2,156) Shop this
8. Sleeveless ribbed knit top
Treat this as the base layer that makes everything else on the list work: a dense sleeveless rib that sits under cardigans, blazers and the mesh cardigan above without adding bulk at the arm. The yarn is a firm, smooth viscose blend with a clean finish at the neckline. Fit is slim and true to size; if you are between sizes, the larger one gives a more relaxed line.
A$370 (RRP A$2,243) Shop this
How we chose
We pulled 90 days of sales across the knitwear collection, removed anything with a return rate above the store average and ranked the remainder on versatility: how many of the outfits we style each week a given knit could sit in. Fabric weight, neckline and how a piece behaves under a coat counted for more than colour. Prices are in AUD and sit below the retail reference for comparable pieces.
How to layer knitwear this winter
Think in gauges. A fine gauge (the polos and ribbed tops here) goes closest to the body and under everything; a mid gauge (the foil top, the mesh cardigan) is the layer you take off indoors; a heavy gauge (the reversed jumper) replaces a jacket and should have room for a shirt underneath. Keep the shoulder lines consistent: a dropped shoulder over a dropped shoulder bunches, so pair an oversized knit with a slim base. Wash cold, dry flat and fold rather than hang, and any of these will see out several winters.